THE chances of Surrey patients dying may increase if they had to travel further away for emergency care, according to a study published last week.

Evidence from the University of Sheffield showed the farther patients travelled by ambulance for emergency care, the more likely they were to die.

The research was based on a review of 10,000 life-threatening calls — such as respiratory problems and asthma — to ambulance services across the country between 1997 and 2001.

The findings showed the risk of patients’ death rose by 1% for every 10km, or six miles, travelled. The chances of patients with severe breathing difficulties dying were 13% if the distance to hospital was between 10km and 20km, and 20% if it was 20km or more.

The distance between the Royal Surrey Hospital and Ashford & St Peter’s and Frimley Park hospitals is approximately 12 miles, or 20km.

This could mean that if one of the hosiptals lost its A&E, or was downgraded, and the most seriously ill or injured — known as category A patients — had to go to neighbouring hospitals, the chances of them dying potentially rises by about 2%.

Dr Steve Goodacre, professor of medical care at Sheffield University, was surprised at the results.

“The main analysis showed the chances of dying increased by 1% for every 10km extra patients had to travel,” he said. “I thought it would not make that much difference. I was surprised that there was a measurable difference between the groups.

“It is concerning that the Government is planning to reorganise health services without evaluating it.”

Dr Goodacre said some patients might benefit by travelling to specialist centres and many conflicting factors needed to be considered.

He said some patients who have life threatening conditions would not need specialist care.

“If you close A&E and don’t put anything in its place, for patients with breathing problems you are probably going to get another death,” he said.

Former paramedic Ken Callanan said the Department of Health-funded research showed the importance of many category A patients being treated within the ‘golden hour’.

“Ambulance crews know certain life threatening illness or trauma require a speedy response from a proper, double-manned ambulance combined with quick and ready access to a fully fledged A&E centre for best patient outcomes,” he said.

“This is the emergency response benchmark on which many lives are saved daily.

“It is very disappointing that the chief executives of our ambulance services are not supporting their ambulance crews or patients in opposing closures or downgrading of A&Es nationally.”

Andy Newton, clinical director and consultant paramedic for South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), welcomed the study.

“It is pleasing to see the paper accepts that for many critically ill or injured patients, being taken to a specialist centre for treatment is the best thing,” he said, agreeing that some patients with life threatening respiratory problems would be better served by their nearest hospital but said the data was relatively old.

“Many of the protocols for treating various respiratory conditions out of hospital have changed since the data was collected,” he said.

A PCT spokesman said evidence showed specialist centres would outweigh increased distances for some patients.

Dr Ruth Milton, director of public health, said it would consult on a number of key services.

A Department of Health spokesman said that emergency treatment started when the ambulance response arrived.

“Paramedics and nurses are much more than a patient taxi service,” he added.